Getting on in years now I did acquire a lot of stocking tools but I have realised over the time that it is very difficult or expensive to purchase from "new" tools for letting in locks Etc. So like the stockers of the past and even today the best way is to make your own, and with a little trial and error you will come up with the correct tool for the job in hand.
So to help you folks I will give you some where to start help.
Chisels** Over here in Brit land "Car Boot sales" are the place to look for them and literally they cost peanuts, and they do come with the handles too. I believe that on the other side of the pond garage sales are a good hunting ground.
Gouges** Well my small gouges start out life as flat chisels or screw drivers. My method to get the correct shape is two fold, firstly for very small gouges I put the internal radius in with an "Angle Grinder" you can purchase quite thin metal cutting blades that you can produce very small curves with. For larger curves I adjust standard 6 inch bench grinder wheels by re shaping them while running with a piece of another grinder wheel, you will be surprised how fast a piece of grind stone will adjust the shape of another wheel to any radius you like.
Re shape your chisels** firstly you heat the chisel blade red hot this does two things. Obviously makes it easier to bend too your desired shape (I find cranked is one of the best shapes to have) also heating breaks the temper of the steel making it unsuitable for using it at this stage. Now all the chisels I have found and adjusted so far have been of the older type because they are usually manufactured from basic high carbon steel (Drill Rod Steel) so easily re tempered. So after bending re heat the first inch or so to red hot and plunge into cold water then clean until bright, at this point the steel will be hard and brittle and unusable. To make it usable you must as we say over here "draw" the temper which is to re heat again slowly until the cleaned section starts to take on a brownish colour then plunge it in cold water again to set the steel permanently at the correct hardness
It does sound a lot to do but it will save you a fortune over time. And there is the added bonus of purchasing an old and rusty wood chisel for practically nothing and making it useful again.
